Dr. Ava Frick was raised on the family farm outside of St. Louis, Missouri and knew from an early age that she wanted to be a veterinarian. She earned her veterinary degree from the University of Missouri in 1980 and went into mixed animal practice in the Lake of the Ozarks area of Missouri after graduation. She then transitioned to traditional small animal practice, honing her surgery and emergency medicine skills. 

She moved to Arizona in 1980 and worked both at the Humane Society and as a locum in area small animal practices. She moved back to Missouri in 1985 and worked in shelter medicine before transitioning into holistic practice. Her holistic practice includes chiropractic, rehabilitation, exercise, and nutrition. She is an expert in veterinary microcurrent therapy and has consulted for the Standard Process Company, developing the Clinical Animal Nutrition Survey (c) to help doctors prioritize organ system function through nutrition. Dr. Frick also designed the first Laser Spinal Pad (R) for animals. 

Her career has involved sharing her knowledge through teaching, writing books and articles, and creating instructional videos. She has been honored as a Runner-Up for Hartz Veterinarian of the Year, the Franklin County Humane Society Visionary Award, and as one of the first inductees into the Animal Chiropractic Hall of Fame. 

Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Ava Frick as we discuss her childhood, her education, her journey into holistic medicine, the stages of her veterinary career, being honored by your peers, and her current life in Cave Creek, Arizona.